Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council committee designates lead agency for Jay Street Connector SEQR; approves DOT supplemental agreement for Franklin Street cycle path
Summary
The council committee designated the City Council as lead agency for environmental review of the Jay Street Connector project and authorized the mayor to enter a supplemental agreement with NYSDOT for the Franklin Street Cycle Path; both items were referred or approved to advance project steps.
A Schenectady City Council committee designated the City Council as lead agency for State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) purposes on the Jay Street Connector project and advanced a supplemental agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation for the Franklin Street Cycle Path.
Corporation counsel or the attorney presenting the Jay Street Connector item described it as the first step in the environmental review process. Materials attached to the meeting packet included a short environmental assessment form; presenters said the council will solicit public comment on abandonment and access matters related to properties and right‑of‑way near Union College and the area behind a nearby car wash. Counsel reported ongoing negotiations with Union College counsel regarding related agreements required under the Second Class Cities Law. A motion to adopt the lead‑agency designation was moved, seconded and approved by the committee.
On the Franklin Street Cycle Path, city staff reported a supplemental agreement (identified as Supplemental Agreement No. 1) with NYSDOT that would reflect federal and state funds for the project. In meeting remarks staff cited “federal funds of 1,900,000” and “state funds of $365,000,000” as shown in schedule A of meeting materials; they also reported an estimated major construction completion date of Nov. 15, 2025. Committee members moved and approved authorization for the mayor or designee to enter the supplemental agreement.
Separately, the committee reviewed a staff recommendation and legal review that the planned renovation of Central Park Casino into an environment/education center does not require a state environmental review. Counsel said the council needs a formal municipal resolution declaring SEQR non‑applicability to process grant and lease paperwork; the committee approved that declaration.
Each measure was advanced by committee action with directions for staff to continue consultations (for Jay Street Connector) and to proceed with the supplemental agreement and related project tasks (for Franklin Street Cycle Path).
